L’etoile Fine Virginia cuisine with a French touch. Exceptional wines. Right across from the Amtrak station. 817 W. Main. 979-7957.
The folks at Big Jim’s BBQ on Route 29 tell us that, after over 27 years, today is their last day. Big Jim’s has been a local institution for years, and a favorite hang out of former Senator George Allen, civil rights attorney John Whitehead, and scores of other BBQ fans. Big Jim’s declined to comment on the reason for the restaurant’s closure, but they did encourage everyone to swing on over before 7pm and say good-bye.
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A couple of weeks ago, Eppie’s on the Downtown Mall, known for their heaping plates of jerk chicken and steamed broccoli, began quietly serving up sandwiches, including the apple and brie and hummus and apple sandwiches shown here, along with Eppie’s signature pumpkin bread ham biscuit. Oh, as we already mentioned…Eppie’s is now serving dinner too.
Since Fuel Co. closed its doors, and pumps, last July, it has been sitting there like an elaborate art installation. Indeed, its been odd to see a gas station in the middle of town closed…aren’t they the only folks making money these days? A For Sale sign has been parked on the curb, and according to Kluge Estate’s Kristin Moses Murray (Fuel Co. was Patricia Kulge’s creation), there have been some offers.
“We are conscious of it’s location,” says Murray, ” and in addition to being the right offer, dollar wise, it has to be the right offer for the town as well.”
The Washington Post has a story today on Charlottesville coffee bars, and writer Roger Piantadosi confirms what we’ve known for some time:
“Charlottesville today has more restaurants per capita than any city in Virginia, or possibly France, and is home to the kind of insanely committed foodies who post photos on their blogs of (I’m not kidding) handwritten estimates of opening dates that the owners have taped to the doors of restaurants that are still under construction. And who then discuss it online for days.”
Whoa! France? We’re not sure if local foodies should slap themselves on the back or seek counseling.
Sadly, Piantadosi’s “coffee bar tour” covers only four places, The Mudhouse, Cafe Cubano, Shenandoah Joe, and C’Ville Coffee. There is a photo of La Taza accompanying the piece, but no mention of it in the story. (Update 4:20pm: Doh! As “Zooey” noticed, there is a hard to see link to a selection of other places, including Milano, La Taza, The Twisted Branch Tea Bazaar, Fox Park Cafe, and Starbucks.) Here are a few snippets from the Post story:
The Mudhouse: “….young people with really interesting hair or pierced what-have-yous, plus at least seven laptops and a table of tweedy professor-looking guys…arguably the most diverse clientele and one of the best locations of all of C’ville’s coffee bars.”
Cafe Cubano: “…definitively cool, inasmuch as a clearly non-hip guy like me always feels more as if I’m missing something amid the deco decor at Cafe Cubano than at, say, Mudhouse.”
Shenandoah Joe: “What distinguishes it from the others — besides the fact that more than half of the enormous, high-ceilinged space is an active, humming roastery with at least 30 types of beans stacked on shelves and counters — is that the baristas know everything about the beans that made the coffee they’re making into your personal drink and are happy to discuss any part of the process with you.”
C’Ville Coffee: “I wrote my last book here,” says Heather Hummel, sitting in the sunniest corner of the adult room with her laptop and coffee. “I think a lot of writers like to work here.”
Dinner at Eppie’s
In case you didn’t already know, Eppie’s on the Downtown Mall is open for dinner, from 5pm to 9pm, Monday through Saturday (of course, lunch is still served from 11:30am to 3:30pm). Still the same great food, only later. Owner Dan Epstein also tells us that he has some special creations he’s cooking up…tune in tomorrow to find out.
Farm shop pouring longer
Kristin Moses Murray at the Kulge Estate Farm Shop informs us that they’ll be extending their hours now that it’s staying lighter longer, from 11am to 6pm (last tasting is at 5:30). Unfortunately, she says they are no longer serving brunch, focusing instead on wine tastings and wine and food pairings. “There is still food, just not a formal brunch,” she says.
All month, the Charlottesville Cooking School in the Meadowbrook Shopping Center will be offering a 2 for the price of 1 special on its Basics of Spring Cooking 1 Class.
In addition, there are Mother’s Day gift certificates available. If you purchase them before May 11, its $5 off the class.
The school will also be offering a special class for kids–Cupcakes 101 with Clare Rannigan (For kids age 9 and up). $45–1 Session.
Call 963-COOK or email [email protected]. The school is located in the Meadowbrook Shopping Centre between El Puerto and Cottonwood at 2041 Barracks Road.
May schedule: (more)
Monday ~ Hot Ham & Cheese
Tuesday ~ Mushroom Swiss Burger
Wednesday ~ Spaghetti
Thursday ~ Country Fried Steak w/ white gravy
Friday ~ Meatloaf
Hours: Monday ~ Thursday 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Friday ~ 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Saturday ~ 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Henry’s Restaurant
Downtown Mall
310 E. Main St.
434-295-7550
Tomorrow, Crush welcomes Ellen Taylor from the Henry Wine Group.
“Ellen is one of our favorites due to the abundance of great wine she represents and her sparkling personality,” says Crush’s Gregg Oxley. ” She is also famous for her quote, “When life hands you lemons, grab a bottle of tequila, some salt and a lime and invite me over.”
Here are the featured wines, with descriptions from Mr. Oxley. As always, there is no charge for the food or wine tasting. (more)
In mid-March we gave a shout out to Panera Bread for finally offering the Hook (and, of course, our Dish column) in their cafes at Barracks Road Shopping Center and Hollymead Town Center. Since opening in 2004, the local presence of the popular chain had only offered the C-ville Weekly and Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine to its customers.
About a week ago, however, the Hook was given the hook.
According to the Hook’s circulation manger, Jeff Norford, managers at both stores, who had previously allowed him to place Hook racks in their cafes, were told by Panera’s local management company, Blue Ridge Bread, Inc. to remove those racks.
Curious, we contacted local Panera marketing manager Lauren Kantruss on April 14 via phone and email about the decision. Kantraus emailed back saying there was an approval process for all outside publications, and expressed interest in “working things out.”
Approval process? Isn’t it in the interest of cafes to offer all the local reads? Go to Greenberry’s, Shenadoah Joe’s, Cafe Cubano, Cville Coffee, and most other cafes and you’ll find all the local publishing world has to offer. (more)
Orzo Kitchen and Wine Bar in the Main Street Ma...
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Exotic ingredients with fun, hip, and happening late-nights on the west end of the Mall.
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